Emotional sentencing for Baker

Sunday

Dec 8, 2013 at 3:00 AMDec 9, 2013 at 6:41 AM

Rebecca Howes, Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • Emotions ran high Friday as the family of Jodie Chase Rains gave victim impact statements at the sentencing of the man convicted of killing Rains outside a Spring Valley Lake bar in March.

Christopher Lee Baker, 31, was sentenced to 11 years for felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury in the death of Rains. Baker punched Rains, whom he had never met, in the parking lot of Thorny's Place. Rains' head hit the pavement after the punch and he died hours later.

Rains' sister Amanda Whatley, of North Carolina, stood beside Deputy District Attorney Carrie Hilgrimson at the Victorville courthouse and spoke directly to Baker about her brother.

Baker, represented by Deputy Public Defender Richard La Fianza, sat in the front row of the jury box dressed in an orange jumpsuit with his hair slicked back and appeared to be listening intently as Whatley spoke.

Whatley, who was seven weeks pregnant when her brother was killed, told Baker she had miscarried and her doctor estimated that the baby's heart stopped beating on the day of Jodie's funeral.

"I want you to know you killed a man who would have never raised his fist to you," Whatley said through tears. "I want this to change your life. ... I want you to come out of prison, be a better man, do something amazing with your life."

Novak, who traveled from Arizona, brought a photo of her son that she showed to Baker.

Rains' sister, Kathleen Reiman, also of Arizona, cried as she told Baker how his actions changed her life.

"My brother's life has been stolen; yours will go on," Reiman said. "Because of your hateful anger at the world my brother is gone."

Reiman's words brought many in the courtroom to tears, including Baker.

"I'm not perfect either, Christopher," Reiman said. "I'm going to get in trouble for this, but I forgive you."

Reiman began sobbing and Baker, clearly moved by her words, cried and wiped tears from his face.

In the gallery, Baker's mother, April, cried as she listened to Reiman and looked at her son.

Stephen Rains, Jodie Rains' brother, spoke last.

"The hole in our lives is indescribable," said Stephen Rains, who also made the trip from Arizona. "I miss him every day. Every single day."

He said the family had to learn through his brother's death that so many people loved him.

"I was stunned by the sheer number of people he touched," Stephen Rains said.

Stephen Rains spoke of his late father, who died just four months after Jodie Rains was killed.

"He lost his youngest son and his best friend," Stephen Rains said of his father. "My father was broken."

When Jodie Rains' family finished speaking, Judge Eric M. Nakata asked Baker if he had anything he would like to say.

Baker looked at Jodie Rains' family and addressed them directly.

"I think about Jodie every day," Baker said. "I just want to apologize to the Rains family and friends."

Nakata expressed his feelings on the plea agreement, stating he "struggled with this sentence."

Nakata called the 11-year sentence — the maximum allowed under the conditions of the plea deal — an "outrage."

Originally Baker had been charged with murder. In October, Jodie Rains' family supported the plea deal and Baker changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on the felony assault charge. The murder charge was dismissed.

During his victim impact statement, Stephen Rains explained the decision.

"We as a family agreed to offer and accept this plea deal," he said. "This decision was unanimous. ... After nine months and six days we will finally be able to stop dealing with memorials and funerals and hearings and trial delays, and instead focus on our losses and our grief and our recovery as a family."

Baker will be sent to the California Department of Corrections at Chino. He received 323 days credit for time served and good behavior, according to court records.

Rebecca Howes can be reached at rhowes@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6276.

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